Display devices and methods of making the same

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a display panel having a first emission region and a second emission region that surrounds the first emission region. The display device includes a first plurality of light emitters arranged in the first emission region, a plurality of activation lines for the first emission region, a second plurality of light emitters arranged in the second emission region, and a plurality of activation lines for the second emission region. A single activation line of the plurality of activation lines for the first emission region is electrically coupled with a first number of light emitters in the first emission region and a single activation line of the plurality of activation lines for the second emission region is electrically coupled with a second number, distinct from the first number, of light emitters in the second emission region.

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/785,258, filed Feb. 7, 2020, which claims thebenefit of, and priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/804,108, filed Feb. 11, 2019, and is a continuation-in-partapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/530,678, filed Aug.2, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,921,499. U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/530,678 claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/804,105, filed Feb. 11, 2019, and is acontinuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/006,734, filed Jun. 12, 2018, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 10,453,828.All of these applications are incorporated by reference herein in theirentireties.

This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/557,838, filed Aug. 30, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,854,583, which isa continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/006,734, filed Jun. 12, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,453,828, both ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This relates generally to head-mounted display devices, and morespecifically to optical components used in head-mounted display devices.

BACKGROUND

Head-mounted display devices (also called herein head-mounted displays)are gaining popularity as a means for providing visual information tousers.

One or more display panels used in head-mounted display devices have aplurality of activation lines to address (or activate) a plurality oflight emitters for multiple resolutions. However, the large number ofactivation lines coupled with the plurality of light emitters increasesthe complexity of display device fabrication. The highly complexstructure of the display devices also creates additional expenses inmanufacturing the display devices.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there is a need for an addressing layout for head-mounteddisplay devices to reduce the complexity of the display devicefabrication.

The above deficiencies and other problems are reduced or eliminated bythe disclosed devices, systems, and methods.

In accordance with some embodiments, a display device includes a displaypanel configured to project light, the display panel having a firstemission region and a second emission region that is distinct from andmutually exclusive to the first emission region and that surrounds thefirst emission region. The display device further includes a firstplurality of light emitters arranged in the first emission region and aplurality of activation lines for the first emission region. The displaydevice further includes a second plurality of light emitters arranged inthe second emission region and a plurality of activation lines for thesecond emission region. A single activation line of the plurality ofactivation lines for the first emission region is electrically coupledwith a first number of light emitters in the first emission region. Asingle activation line of the plurality of activation lines for thesecond emission region is electrically coupled with a second number oflight emitters in the second emission region. The second number isdistinct from the first number.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method of making a display deviceincludes arranging a first plurality of light emitters in a firstemission region of a display panel and arranging a second plurality oflight emitters in a second emission region of the display panel. Thefirst plurality of light emitters arranged in the first emission regionis electrically coupled with a plurality of activation lines for thefirst emission region and the second plurality of light emittersarranged in the second emission region is electrically coupled with aplurality of activation lines for the second emission region. A singleactivation line of the plurality of activation lines for the firstemission region is electrically coupled with a first number of lightemitters in the first emission region and a single activation line ofthe plurality of activation lines for the second emission region iselectrically coupled with a second number of light emitters in thesecond emission region. The second number is distinct from the firstnumber.

Thus, the disclosed embodiments provide devices and methods that reducepower consumption.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various described embodiments,reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, inconjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numeralsrefer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system including a display device inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a display device in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a display panel in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plurality of light emitters located in a pluralityof emission regions of a display panel in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the display panelshown in FIG. 5 in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the display panelshown in FIG. 5 in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a matrix layout for a high resolution region of adisplay panel in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a hybrid addressing layout for a display panel inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a display panel having aninterposer that is coupled with a control circuit.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of making a displaydevice in accordance with some embodiments.

These figures are not drawn to scale unless indicated otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Human eyes have a non-uniform resolution across a field of vision. Forexample, a human eye typically has a high resolution around a fovea ofthe eye, and the resolution rapidly decreases toward a peripheral areaof a retina of the eye. To reduce the power consumption of head-mounteddisplay devices, foveated displays with multiple emission regions ofdifferent densities (e.g., a high resolution region having a higherdensity of light emitters for foveal vision and a low resolution regionhaving a lower density of light emitters for peripheral vision) areused.

To address the plurality of light emitters in the multiple resolutionregions of the displays, a plurality of activation lines coupled withthe plurality of light emitters is required. However, due to therelatively small size of the high resolution region and the high densityof light emitters in the high resolution region, connecting the largenumber of activation lines to the plurality of light emitters in themultiple resolution regions increase the complexity of the displaydevice fabrication.

This application discloses a hybrid addressing layout for reducing thecomplexity of the display device fabrication. In the hybrid addressinglayout, a single activation line is configured to activate at least twolight emitters in the high resolution region and a single activationline is configured to activate a single light emitter in the lowresolution region. Thus, the hybrid addressing layout reduces the numberof activation lines required to activate a plurality of light emittersand provide a simple configuration for the display device fabrication.

Reference will now be made to embodiments, examples of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide anunderstanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various describedembodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, andnetworks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarilyobscure aspects of the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, theseelements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used onlyto distinguish one element from another. For example, a first regioncould be termed a second region, and, similarly, a second region couldbe termed a first region, without departing from the scope of thevarious described embodiments. The first region and the second regionare both regions, but they are not the same region.

The terminology used in the description of the various describedembodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in thedescription of the various described embodiments and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as usedherein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. The term “exemplary” is used herein in the senseof “serving as an example, instance, or illustration” and not in thesense of “representing the best of its kind.”

Embodiments described herein may include or be implemented inconjunction with an artificial reality system. Artificial reality is aform of reality that has been adjusted in some manner beforepresentation to a user, which may include, e.g., virtual reality (VR),augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), hybrid reality, or somecombination and/or derivatives thereof. Artificial reality content mayinclude completely generated content or generated content combined withcaptured (e.g., real-world) content. The artificial reality content mayinclude video, audio, haptic feedback, or some combination thereof, andany of which may be presented in a single channel or in multiplechannels (such as stereo video that produces a three-dimensional effectto the viewer). Additionally, in some embodiments, artificial realitymay also be associated with applications, products, accessories,services, or some combination thereof, that are used to, e.g., createcontent in an artificial reality and/or are otherwise used in (e.g.,perform activities in) an artificial reality environment. An artificialreality system that provides artificial reality content may beimplemented on various platforms, including a head-mounted display (HMD)connected to a host computer system, a standalone HMD, a mobile deviceor computing system, or any other hardware platform capable of providingartificial reality content to one or more viewers.

FIG. 1 illustrates display device 100 in accordance with someembodiments. In some embodiments, display device 100 is configured to beworn on a head of a user (e.g., by having the form of spectacles oreyeglasses, as shown in FIG. 1 ) or to be included as part of a helmetthat is to be worn by the user. When display device 100 is configured tobe worn on the head of a user or to be included as part of a helmet orheadset, display device 100 maybe called a head-mounted display orheadset. Alternatively, display device 100 is configured for placementin proximity of an eye or eyes of the user at a fixed location, withoutbeing head-mounted (e.g., display device 100 is mounted in a vehicle,such as a car or an airplane, for placement in front of an eye or eyesof the user). As shown in FIG. 1 , display device 100 includes display110. Display 110 is configured for presenting visual content (e.g.,augmented reality content, virtual reality content, mixed realitycontent, or any combination thereof) to a user.

In some embodiments, display device 100 includes one or more componentsdescribed below with respect to FIG. 2 . In some embodiments, displaydevice 100 includes additional components not shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of system 200 in accordance with someembodiments. The system 200 shown in FIG. 2 includes display device 205(which corresponds to display device 100 shown in FIG. 1 ), imagingdevice 235, and input interface 240 that are each coupled to console210. While FIG. 2 shows an example of system 200 including one displaydevice 205, imaging device 235, and input interface 240, in otherembodiments, any number of these components may be included in system200. For example, there may be multiple display devices 205 each havingan associated input interface 240 and being monitored by one or moreimaging devices 235, with each display device 205, input interface 240,and imaging device 235 communicating with console 210. In alternativeconfigurations, different and/or additional components may be includedin system 200. For example, in some embodiments, console 210 isconnected via a network (e.g., the Internet) to system 200 or isself-contained as part of display device 205 (e.g., physically locatedinside display device 205). In some embodiments, display device 205 isused to create mixed reality by adding in a view of the realsurroundings. Thus, display device 205 and system 200 described here candeliver virtual reality, mixed reality, and/or augmented reality.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1 , display device 205 is ahead-mounted display that presents media to a user. Examples of mediapresented by display device 205 include one or more images, video,audio, haptics, or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, audiois presented via an external device (e.g., speakers and/or headphones)that receives audio information from display device 205, console 210, orboth, and presents audio data based on the audio information. In someembodiments, display device 205 immerses a user in a virtualenvironment.

In some embodiments, display device 205 also acts as an augmentedreality (AR) headset. In these embodiments, display device 205 canaugment views of a physical, real-world environment withcomputer-generated elements (e.g., images, video, sound, haptics, etc.).Moreover, in some embodiments, display device 205 is able to cyclebetween different types of operation. Thus, display device 205 canoperate as a virtual reality (VR) device, an AR device, as glasses orsome combination thereof (e.g., glasses with no optical correction,glasses optically corrected for the user, sunglasses, or somecombination thereof) based on instructions from application engine 255.

Display device 205 includes electronic display 215, one or moreprocessors 216, eye tracking module 217, adjustment module 218, one ormore locators 220, one or more position sensors 225, one or moreposition cameras 222, memory 228, inertial measurement unit (IMU) 230,or a subset or superset thereof (e.g., display device 205 withelectronic display 215, one or more processors 216, and memory 228,without any other listed components). Some embodiments of display device205 have different modules than those described here. Similarly, thefunctions can be distributed among the modules in a different mannerthan is described here.

One or more processors 216 (e.g., processing units or cores) executeinstructions stored in memory 228. Memory 228 includes high-speed randomaccess memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM, or other solid state memorydevices; and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or moremagnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flashmemory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices.Memory 228, or alternately the non-volatile memory device(s) withinmemory 228, includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium.In some embodiments, memory 228 or the computer readable storage mediumof memory 228 stores programs, modules and data structures, and/orinstructions for displaying one or more images on electronic display215.

Electronic display 215 displays images to the user in accordance withdata received from console 210 and/or processor(s) 216. In variousembodiments, electronic display 215 may comprise a single adjustableelectronic display element or multiple adjustable electronic displayselements (e.g., a display for each eye of a user).

In some embodiments, the display element includes one or more lightemission devices and a corresponding array of emission intensity arrays.An emission intensity array is an array of electro-optic pixels,opto-electronic pixels, some other array of devices that dynamicallyadjust the amount of light transmitted by each device, or somecombination thereof. These pixels are placed behind one or more lenses.In some embodiments, the emission intensity array is an array of liquidcrystal based pixels in an LCD (a Liquid Crystal Display). Examples ofthe light emission devices include: an organic light emitting diode, anactive-matrix organic light-emitting diode, a light emitting diode, sometype of device capable of being placed in a flexible display, or somecombination thereof. The light emission devices include devices that arecapable of generating visible light (e.g., red, green, blue, etc.) usedfor image generation. The emission intensity array is configured toselectively attenuate individual light emission devices, groups of lightemission devices, or some combination thereof. Alternatively, when thelight emission devices are configured to selectively attenuateindividual emission devices and/or groups of light emission devices, thedisplay element includes an array of such light emission devices withouta separate emission intensity array.

One or more lenses direct light from the arrays of light emissiondevices (optionally through the emission intensity arrays) to locationswithin each eyebox and ultimately to the back of the user's retina(s).An eyebox is a region that is occupied by an eye of a user locatedproximate to display device 205 (e.g., a user wearing display device205) for viewing images from display device 205. In some cases, theeyebox is represented as a 10 mm×10 mm square. In some embodiments, theone or more lenses include one or more coatings, such as anti-reflectivecoatings.

In some embodiments, the display element includes an infrared (IR)detector array that detects IR light that is retro-reflected from theretinas of a viewing user, from the surface of the corneas, lenses ofthe eyes, or some combination thereof. The IR detector array includes anIR sensor or a plurality of IR sensors that each correspond to adifferent position of a pupil of the viewing user's eye. In alternateembodiments, other eye tracking systems may also be employed.

Eye tracking module 217 determines locations of each pupil of a user'seyes. In some embodiments, eye tracking module 217 instructs electronicdisplay 215 to illuminate the eyebox with IR light (e.g., via IRemission devices in the display element).

A portion of the emitted IR light will pass through the viewing user'spupil and be retro-reflected from the retina toward the IR detectorarray, which is used for determining the location of the pupil.Alternatively, the reflection off of the surfaces of the eye also isused to determine location of the pupil. The IR detector array scans forretro-reflection and identifies which IR emission devices are activewhen retro-reflection is detected. Eye tracking module 217 may use atracking lookup table and the identified IR emission devices todetermine the pupil locations for each eye. The tracking lookup tablemaps received signals on the IR detector array to locations(corresponding to pupil locations) in each eyebox. In some embodiments,the tracking lookup table is generated via a calibration procedure(e.g., user looks at various known reference points in an image and eyetracking module 217 maps the locations of the user's pupil while lookingat the reference points to corresponding signals received on the IRtracking array). Alternatively, the eye's gaze direction may becalculated using the known geometry of the system and the eye, bycalibration of the system, or by machine learning techniques. Asmentioned above, in some embodiments, system 200 may use other eyetracking systems than the embedded IR one described above.

Adjustment module 218 generates an image frame based on the determinedlocations of the pupils. In some embodiments, this sends a discreteimage to the display that will tile subimages together thus a coherentstitched image will appear on the back of the retina. Adjustment module218 adjusts an output (i.e. the generated image frame) of electronicdisplay 215 based on the detected locations of the pupils. Adjustmentmodule 218 instructs portions of electronic display 215 to pass imagelight to the determined locations of the pupils. In some embodiments,adjustment module 218 also instructs the electronic display not to passimage light to positions other than the determined locations of thepupils. Adjustment module 218 may, for example, block and/or stop lightemission devices whose image light falls outside of the determined pupillocations, allow other light emission devices to emit image light thatfalls within the determined pupil locations, translate and/or rotate oneor more display elements, dynamically adjust curvature and/or refractivepower of one or more active lenses in the lens (e.g., microlens) arrays,or some combination thereof.

Optional locators 220 are objects located in specific positions ondisplay device 205 relative to one another and relative to a specificreference point on display device 205. A locator 220 may be a lightemitting diode (LED), a corner cube reflector, a reflective marker, atype of light source that contrasts with an environment in which displaydevice 205 operates, or some combination thereof. In embodiments wherelocators 220 are active (i.e., an LED or other type of light emittingdevice), locators 220 may emit light in the visible band (e.g., about400 nm to 750 nm), in the infrared band (e.g., about 750 nm to 1 mm), inthe ultraviolet band (about 100 nm to 400 nm), some other portion of theelectromagnetic spectrum, or some combination thereof.

In some embodiments, locators 220 are located beneath an outer surfaceof display device 205, which is transparent to the wavelengths of lightemitted or reflected by locators 220 or is thin enough to notsubstantially attenuate the wavelengths of light emitted or reflected bylocators 220. Additionally, in some embodiments, the outer surface orother portions of display device 205 are opaque in the visible band ofwavelengths of light. Thus, locators 220 may emit light in the IR bandunder an outer surface that is transparent in the IR band but opaque inthe visible band.

IMU 230 is an electronic device that generates calibration data based onmeasurement signals received from one or more position sensors 225.Position sensor 225 generates one or more measurement signals inresponse to motion of display device 205. Examples of position sensors225 include: one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one ormore magnetometers, another suitable type of sensor that detects motion,a type of sensor used for error correction of IMU 230, or somecombination thereof. Position sensors 225 may be located external to IMU230, internal to IMU 230, or some combination thereof.

Based on the one or more measurement signals from one or more positionsensors 225, IMU 230 generates first calibration data indicating anestimated position of display device 205 relative to an initial positionof display device 205. For example, position sensors 225 includemultiple accelerometers to measure translational motion (forward/back,up/down, left/right) and multiple gyroscopes to measure rotationalmotion (e.g., pitch, yaw, roll). In some embodiments, IMU 230 rapidlysamples the measurement signals and calculates the estimated position ofdisplay device 205 from the sampled data. For example, IMU 230integrates the measurement signals received from the accelerometers overtime to estimate a velocity vector and integrates the velocity vectorover time to determine an estimated position of a reference point ondisplay device 205. Alternatively, IMU 230 provides the sampledmeasurement signals to console 210, which determines the firstcalibration data. The reference point is a point that may be used todescribe the position of display device 205. While the reference pointmay generally be defined as a point in space; however, in practice thereference point is defined as a point within display device 205 (e.g., acenter of IMU 230).

In some embodiments, IMU 230 receives one or more calibration parametersfrom console 210. As further discussed below, the one or morecalibration parameters are used to maintain tracking of display device205. Based on a received calibration parameter, IMU 230 may adjust oneor more IMU parameters (e.g., sample rate). In some embodiments, certaincalibration parameters cause IMU 230 to update an initial position ofthe reference point so it corresponds to a next calibrated position ofthe reference point. Updating the initial position of the referencepoint as the next calibrated position of the reference point helpsreduce accumulated error associated with the determined estimatedposition. The accumulated error, also referred to as drift error, causesthe estimated position of the reference point to “drift” away from theactual position of the reference point over time.

Imaging device 235 generates calibration data in accordance withcalibration parameters received from console 210. Calibration dataincludes one or more images showing observed positions of locators 220that are detectable by imaging device 235. In some embodiments, imagingdevice 235 includes one or more still cameras, one or more videocameras, any other device capable of capturing images including one ormore locators 220, or some combination thereof. Additionally, imagingdevice 235 may include one or more filters (e.g., used to increasesignal to noise ratio). Imaging device 235 is optionally configured todetect light emitted or reflected from locators 220 in a field of viewof imaging device 235. In embodiments where locators 220 include passiveelements (e.g., a retroreflector), imaging device 235 may include alight source that illuminates some or all of locators 220, whichretro-reflect the light towards the light source in imaging device 235.Second calibration data is communicated from imaging device 235 toconsole 210, and imaging device 235 receives one or more calibrationparameters from console 210 to adjust one or more imaging parameters(e.g., focal length, focus, frame rate, ISO, sensor temperature, shutterspeed, aperture, etc.).

Input interface 240 is a device that allows a user to send actionrequests to console 210. An action request is a request to perform aparticular action. For example, an action request may be to start or endan application or to perform a particular action within the application.Input interface 240 may include one or more input devices. Example inputdevices include: a keyboard, a mouse, a game controller, data from brainsignals, data from other parts of the human body, or any other suitabledevice for receiving action requests and communicating the receivedaction requests to console 210. An action request received by inputinterface 240 is communicated to console 210, which performs an actioncorresponding to the action request. In some embodiments, inputinterface 240 may provide haptic feedback to the user in accordance withinstructions received from console 210. For example, haptic feedback isprovided when an action request is received, or console 210 communicatesinstructions to input interface 240 causing input interface 240 togenerate haptic feedback when console 210 performs an action.

Console 210 provides media to display device 205 for presentation to theuser in accordance with information received from one or more of:imaging device 235, display device 205, and input interface 240. In theexample shown in FIG. 2 , console 210 includes application store 245,tracking module 250, and application engine 255. Some embodiments ofconsole 210 have different modules than those described in conjunctionwith FIG. 2 . Similarly, the functions further described below may bedistributed among components of console 210 in a different manner thanis described here.

When application store 245 is included in console 210, application store245 stores one or more applications for execution by console 210. Anapplication is a group of instructions, that when executed by aprocessor, is used for generating content for presentation to the user.Content generated by the processor based on an application may be inresponse to inputs received from the user via movement of display device205 or input interface 240. Examples of applications include: gamingapplications, conferencing applications, video playback application, orother suitable applications.

When tracking module 250 is included in console 210, tracking module 250calibrates system 200 using one or more calibration parameters and mayadjust one or more calibration parameters to reduce error indetermination of the position of display device 205. For example,tracking module 250 adjusts the focus of imaging device 235 to obtain amore accurate position for observed locators on display device 205.Moreover, calibration performed by tracking module 250 also accounts forinformation received from IMU 230. Additionally, if tracking of displaydevice 205 is lost (e.g., imaging device 235 loses line of sight of atleast a threshold number of locators 220), tracking module 250re-calibrates some or all of system 200.

In some embodiments, tracking module 250 tracks movements of displaydevice 205 using second calibration data from imaging device 235. Forexample, tracking module 250 determines positions of a reference pointof display device 205 using observed locators from the secondcalibration data and a model of display device 205. In some embodiments,tracking module 250 also determines positions of a reference point ofdisplay device 205 using position information from the first calibrationdata. Additionally, in some embodiments, tracking module 250 may useportions of the first calibration data, the second calibration data, orsome combination thereof, to predict a future location of display device205. Tracking module 250 provides the estimated or predicted futureposition of display device 205 to application engine 255.

Application engine 255 executes applications within system 200 andreceives position information, acceleration information, velocityinformation, predicted future positions, or some combination thereof ofdisplay device 205 from tracking module 250. Based on the receivedinformation, application engine 255 determines content to provide todisplay device 205 for presentation to the user. For example, if thereceived information indicates that the user has looked to the left,application engine 255 generates content for display device 205 thatmirrors the user's movement in a virtual environment. Additionally,application engine 255 performs an action within an applicationexecuting on console 210 in response to an action request received frominput interface 240 and provides feedback to the user that the actionwas performed. The provided feedback may be visual or audible feedbackvia display device 205 or haptic feedback via input interface 240.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of display device 300 in accordance withsome embodiments. In some other embodiments, display device 300 is partof some other electronic display (e.g., digital microscope, etc.). Insome embodiments, display device 300 includes light emission devicearray 310 and one or more lenses 330. In some embodiments, displaydevice 300 also includes an emission intensity array and an IR detectorarray.

Light emission device array 310 emits image light and optional IR lighttoward the viewing user. Light emission device array 310 may be, e.g.,an array of LEDs, an array of microLEDs, an array of OLEDs, or somecombination thereof. Light emission device array 310 includes lightemission devices 320 that emit visible light (and optionally includesdevices that emit IR light). In some embodiments, a microLED includes anLED with an emission area characterized by a representative dimension(e.g., a diameter, a width, a height, etc.) of 100 μm or less (e.g., 50μm, 20 μm, etc.). In some embodiments, a microLED has an emission areahaving a shape of a circle, a square, or a rectangle.

The emission intensity array is configured to selectively attenuatelight emitted from light emission array 310. In some embodiments, theemission intensity array is composed of a plurality of liquid crystalcells or pixels, groups of light emission devices, or some combinationthereof. Each of the liquid crystal cells is, or in some embodiments,groups of liquid crystal cells are, addressable to have specific levelsof attenuation. For example, at a given time, some of the liquid crystalcells may be set to no attenuation, while other liquid crystal cells maybe set to maximum attenuation. In this manner the emission intensityarray is able to control what portion of the image light emitted fromlight emission device array 310 is passed to the one or more lenses 330.In some embodiments, display device 300 uses the emission intensityarray to facilitate providing image light to a location of pupil 350 ofeye 340 of a user, and minimize the amount of image light provided toother areas in the eyebox.

One or more lenses 330 receive the modified image light (e.g.,attenuated light) from the emission intensity array (or directly fromemission device array 310), shifted by one or more beam shifters 360,and direct the shifted image light to a location of pupil 350.

An optional IR detector array detects IR light that has beenretro-reflected from the retina of eye 340, the cornea of eye 340, acrystalline lens of eye 340, or some combination thereof. The IRdetector array includes either a single IR sensor or a plurality of IRsensitive detectors (e.g., photodiodes). In some embodiments, the IRdetector array is separate from light emission device array 310. In someembodiments, the IR detector array is integrated into light emissiondevice array 310.

In some embodiments, light emission device array 310 and the emissionintensity array make up a display element. Alternatively, the displayelement includes light emission device array 310 (e.g., when lightemission device array 310 includes individually adjustable pixels)without the emission intensity array. In some embodiments, the displayelement additionally includes the IR array. In some embodiments, inresponse to a determined location of pupil 350, the display elementadjusts the emitted image light such that the light output by thedisplay element is refracted by one or more lenses 330 toward thedetermined location of pupil 350, and not toward other locations in theeyebox.

A significant portion of power used for operating a head-mounted displaydevice is used for (i) computation needed to render high-resolutionimages and (ii) conversion of electrical energy to light for displayingthe rendered images. Human eyes have a non-uniform resolution across afield of vision. For example, a human eye typically has a higherresolution around a fovea of the eye, and with resolution decreasingtoward a peripheral area of the retina of the eye. To reduce the powerconsumption of head-mounted display devices, displays with multipleregions of different densities can be used. A high resolution region isused for providing a higher resolution image to the fovea of the eye,and a low resolution region is used for providing a lower resolutionimage to the peripheral area of the retina of the eye (which, however,does not impact the perceived resolution, as the peripheral area of theretina of the eye has a low resolution). The low resolution regionconsumes less power than the high resolution region for a same unitarea.

FIG. 4 illustrates a display panel 400 in accordance with someembodiments.

In some embodiments, the display panel 400 corresponds to the lightemission device array 310 shown in FIG. 3 . In some embodiments, thedisplay panel 400 is coupled with a circuit board 450. The display panel400 includes a first emission region 410, a second emission region 420,a third emission region 430, and a fourth emission region 440. AlthoughFIG. 4 illustrates the display panel 400 having four emission regions,the display panel 400 is not limited to having four emission regions,but rather may have fewer or more emission regions (e.g., at least 2, 3,5, 6, or 7 regions, etc.).

In some cases, the first emission region 410 is configured to providelight to a fovea of a user's eye and the other emission regions (e.g.,the second emission region 420, the third emission region 430, and thefourth emission region 440) is configured to provide light to aperipheral-vision area of the user's eye. The second emission region 420is distinct from and mutually exclusive to the first emission region 410and the third emission region 430 is distinct from and mutuallyexclusive to the second emission region 420. The fourth emission region440 is distinct from and mutually exclusive to the third emission region430. Each of these emission regions are distinct from each other.

In FIG. 4 , the first emission region 410 is surrounded by the secondemission region 420, the second emission region 420 is surrounded by thethird emission region 430 and the third emission region 430 issurrounded by the fourth emission region 440.

In some embodiments, the first emission region 410 is no more than 50%of the total area of the display panel 400. In other embodiments, it canbe less than 20%, less than 10%, and, or less than 5% of the area of thedisplay panel 400.

In some embodiments, the second emission region 420 is in contact withthe first emission region 410, and the third emission region 430 is incontact with the second emission region 420. In some embodiments, thefourth emission region 440 is in contact with the third emission region430.

In some embodiments, the third emission region 430 is distinct andseparate from the first emission region 410. In some embodiments, thefourth emission region 440 is distinct and separate from the firstemission region 410 and the second emission region 420. In someembodiments, each of theses emission regions can be distinct from eachother.

In some embodiments, the display panel 400 includes a plurality of lightemitters arranged in the first emission region 410, the second emissionregion 420, the third emission region 430, and the fourth emissionregion 440 (e.g., multiple light emitters are arranged in the firstemission region 410, multiple light emitters are arranged in the secondemission region 420, multiple light emitters are arranged in the thirdemission region 430, and multiple light emitters are arranged in thefourth emission region 440).

In some embodiments, the plurality of light emitters is individuallyaddressable. In some embodiments, the light emitters are arranged in arespective emission region in an array (e.g., a rectangular array, ahoneycomb array, etc.). In order to provide different resolutions indifferent emission regions, each emission region has a different densityof light emitters. In some embodiments, the first emission region 410has a first density of light emitters, the second emission region 420has a second density of light emitters that is less than the firstdensity, and the third emission region 430 has a third density of lightemitters that is less than the second density. In some embodiments, thefourth emission region 440 has a fourth density of light emitters thatis less than the third density.

In some embodiments, the first density is at least 50% higher than thesecond density. In some embodiments, the first density is at least 75%higher than the second density. In some embodiments, the first densityis at least 100% higher than the second density.

In some embodiments, the second density is at least 50% higher than thethird density. In some embodiments, the second density is at least 75%higher than the third density. In some embodiments, the second densityis at least 100% higher than the third density.

In some embodiments, the third density is at least 50% higher than thefourth density. In some embodiments, the third density is at least 75%higher than the fourth density. In some embodiments, the third densityis at least 100% higher than the fourth density.

In some embodiments, for any pair of emission regions selected from theplurality of emission regions in the display panel, an inner emissionregion of the pair of emission regions has a density of light emittersthat is higher than a density of light emitters of an outer emissionregion of the pair of emission regions, the inner emission region beingsurrounded by the outer emission region.

In some embodiments, a ratio of the first density to the fourth densityis at least 1.5:1, at least 2:1, at least 5:1, or at least 10:1. In someembodiments, a ratio of the first density to the third density is atleast 1.5:1, at least 2:1, at least 5:1, or at least 10:1.

In some embodiments, a resolution of the display panel 400 decreasesgradually from at least one emission region of the display panel toanother. For example, in some cases, the first density of the firstemission region 410 has the highest resolution among the plurality ofemission regions, the second density of the second emission region 420is at least 80%, 90%, or 95% of the first density, and the third densityof the third emission region 430 is at least 80%, 90%, or 95% of thesecond density. In some embodiments, the fourth density of the fourthemission region 440 is at least 80%, 90%, or 95% of the third density.

In some embodiments, the display panel 400 includes ten or more emissionregions, for any pair of adjacent emission regions selected from the tenor more emission regions, an outer emission region of the pair ofadjacent emission regions has a density of light emitters that is atleast 80%, 90%, or 95% of a density of light emitters of an inneremission region of the pair of adjacent emission regions. In someembodiments, the densities of the emission regions are selected so thatboundaries of the emission regions are not visually perceivable (e.g., aratio of densities of two adjacent emission regions is less than apredefined threshold).

FIG. 5 illustrates a plurality of light emitters located in a pluralityof emission regions in a display panel (e.g., the display panel 400shown in FIG. 4 ) in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 5 , light emitters are arranged with a differentdensity in each of the first, second, third, and fourth emission regionsof the display panel 400. Light emitters 510 are arranged in the firstemission region, light emitters 520 are arranged in the second emissionregion, and light emitters 530 are arranged in the third emissionregion. Light emitters 540 are arranged in the fourth emission region.

As shown in FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, a light emitter 510 in thefirst emission region is smaller than a light emitter 520 in the secondemission region, a light emitter 530 in the third emission region, and alight emitter 540 in the fourth emission region. In some embodiments,the light emitter 520 in the second emission region is smaller than thelight emitter 530 in the third emission region and the light emitter 540in the fourth emission region. In some embodiments, the light emitter530 in the third emission region is smaller than the light emitter 540in the fourth emission region.

In some embodiments, each of the plurality of emitters has a sameemission area.

In some embodiments, an emission area of an emitter increases with thereduction in a density of the plurality of emission regions, therebymaintaining a perceived brightness uniformly across the field of view.In some embodiments, for any pair of emission regions in the displaypanel 400, a light emitter in the inner emission region of the pair ofemission regions has an emission area that is smaller than an emissionarea of a light emitter in the outer emission region surrounding theinner region while the inner emission region has a higher density thanthe outer emission region. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , in someembodiments, the first emission region has a higher density than thesecond emission region, and the light emitter 510 in the first emissionregion have an emission area that is less than an emission area of thelight emitter 520 in the second emission region. In some embodiments,the emission area of the light emitter 520 in the second emission regionis less than an emission area of the light emitter 530 in the thirdemission region. In some embodiments, the emission area of the lightemitter 530 in the third emission region is less than an emission areaof the light emitter 540 in the fourth emission region. In someembodiments, the emission area of the light emitter 510 in the firstemission region is less than 50%, 20%, 10%, or 5% of the emission areaof the light emitter 540 in the fourth emission region. In someembodiments, the emission area of the light emitter 510 in the firstemission region is less than 50%, 20%, 10%, or 5% of the emission areaof the light emitter 530 in the third emission region.

The plurality of light emitters in accordance with some embodiments isbased on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), light-emitting diodes(LEDs), superluminescent LEDs (SLEDs), LD, vertical cavity surfaceemitting lasers (VCSELs), or any combination thereof. The display devicein accordance with some embodiments is monochromatic, or has two, three(e.g. RGB), or four colors (e.g. RGBY or RGBW), or more. In someembodiments, the display device is a combination of color emitters withIR emitters. In some embodiments, the display device is a combination ofcolor emitters with IR emitters. In some embodiments, a respective lightemitter of the plurality of light emitters includes a first sub-pixelcorresponding to a first color (e.g., red) and a second sub-pixel, thatis distinct from the first sub-pixel, corresponding to a second color(e.g., blue) that is distinct from the first color. In some embodiments,the respective light emitter includes a third sub-pixel, that isdistinct from the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel,corresponding to a third color (e.g., green) that is distinct from thefirst color and the second color.

As described above, in some embodiments, each emission region has adifferent density of light emitters. A box 600 illustrated in FIG. 5indicates a portion of the display panel 400 that is shown in detail inFIG. 6 .

FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion 600 of the displaypanel 400 shown in FIG. 5 in accordance with some embodiments. Theportion 600 shows different densities of light emitters in the firstemission region, the second emission region, and the third emissionregion in accordance with some embodiments.

In FIG. 6 , the portion 600 of the display panel 400 includes a portionof the first emission region, a portion of the second emission region,and a portion of the third emission region. For illustration purposes,in FIG. 6 , light emitters in the first emission region, the secondemission region, and the third emission region are filled with differenthatching patterns (e.g., the light emitters in the first emission regionare cross-hatched, the light emitters in the second emission region arenot hatched, and the light emitters in the third emission region arehorizontally hatched).

In some embodiments, a density of light emitters in an emission regionis determined from a distance between adjacent (e.g., neighboring) lightemitters in the emission region. In some cases, a center-to-centerspacing between the adjacent light emitters is deemed to be the distancebetween the adjacent light emitters. In some cases, an averagecenter-to-center spacing between adjacent light emitters in a particularemission region is deemed to be the distance between the adjacent lightemitters. In some cases, an edge-to-edge spacing between the adjacentlight emitters is deemed to be the distance between the adjacent lightemitters. As shown in FIG. 6 , two light emitters, that are adjacent toeach other, in the first emission region are spaced apart by a firstdistance 610 (e.g., a first distance D1) and two light emitters, thatare adjacent to each other, in the second emission region are spacedapart by a second distance 620 (e.g., a second distance D2) that isgreater than the first distance 610. Two light emitters, that areadjacent to each other, in the third emission region are spaced apart bya third distance 630 (e.g., a third distance D3) that is greater thanthe second distance 620. As shown in FIG. 6 , the first emission regionhas a higher density of light emitters than the second emission region,and the second emission region has a higher density of light emittersthan the third emission region.

A box 700 illustrated in FIG. 6 indicates a portion of the display panel400 that is shown in detail in FIG. 7 .

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion 700 of the displaypanel 400 shown in FIG. 5 in accordance with some embodiments. Theportion 700 shows a distance between adjacent light emitters in thefirst emission region, a distance between adjacent light emitters in thesecond emission region, and a distance between adjacent light emittersin the third emission region.

In FIG. 7 , the first emission region includes a light emitter 701-1that is adjacent to a neighboring light emitter 701-2 in the firstemission region. The light emitter 701-1 is located adjacent to thesecond emission region (e.g., the light emitter 701-1 is locatedadjacent to a border between the first emission region and the secondemission region) and, in particular, to a light emitter 710-1 in thesecond emission region. The light emitter 710-1 is located adjacent tothe first emission region (e.g., the light emitter 710-1 is locatedadjacent to the border between the first emission region and the secondemission region) and, in particular, to the light emitter 701-1.

The display panel also includes a light emitter 710-3 that is adjacentto a neighboring light emitter 710-4 in the second emission region. Thelight emitter 710-3 is located adjacent to the third emission region(e.g., the light emitter 710-3 is located adjacent to a border betweenthe second emission region and the third emission region) and, inparticular, to a light emitter 720-1 in the third emission region. Thelight emitter 720-1 is located adjacent to the second emission region(e.g., the light emitter 720-1 is located adjacent to the border betweenthe second emission region and the third emission region) and, inparticular, to the light emitter 710-3.

In FIG. 7 , the light emitter 701-1 is spaced apart from the neighboringlight emitter 701-2 in the first emission region by the first distanceD1 and the second light emitter 710-1 is spaced apart from theneighboring light emitter 710-2 in the second emission region by thesecond distance D2. The light emitter 701-1 is spaced apart from thelight emitter 710-1 by a distance S1. In some embodiments, the distanceS1 is at most the second distance D2 (e.g., the distance S1 is equal to,or less than, the second distance D2).

In FIG. 7 , the light emitter 710-3 is spaced apart from the neighboringlight emitter 710-4 in the second emission region by the second distanceD2 and the light emitter 720-1 is spaced apart from the neighboringlight emitter 720-2 in the third emission region by the third distanceD3. The light emitter 710-3 is spaced apart from the light emitter 720-1by a distance S2. In some embodiments, the distance S2 is at most thethird distance D3 (e.g., the distance S2 is equal to, or less than, thethird distance D3).

In FIG. 7 , some light emitters in each emission region are omitted soas not to obscure other aspects of these emission regions and lightemitters located therein.

As described herein, the display panel (e.g., the display panel 400)includes a plurality of light emitters in a plurality of emissionregions (e.g., the first emission region 410, the second emission region420, the third emission region 430, the fourth emission region 440,etc.). A plurality of activation lines coupled with the plurality oflight emitters is used to individually address (or activate) theplurality of light emitters in the plurality of emission regions.However, a high resolution region (e.g., the first emission region 410)is relatively smaller than low resolution regions (e.g., the secondemission region 420, etc.) and has a higher density of light emitters(e.g., determined from a distance 610). Due to the relatively small sizeof the high resolution region and the higher density of the lightemitters, connecting the large number of activation lines to theplurality for light emitters increases complexity of the display devicefabrication.

To reduce the complexity of the display device fabrication, a hybridaddressing layout, that is a combination of a matrix layout for the highresolution region and direct addressing for the low resolution region,is used. For example, in the high resolution region (e.g., the firstemission region 410), a plurality of light emitters is arranged in aplurality of row activation lines and a plurality of column activationlines of the matrix layout. A single activation (row or column) line ofthe matrix layout is coupled with two or more light emitters of theplurality of light emitters so that the number of activation linesrequired to activate the plurality of light emitters is reduced. In thelower resolution region (e.g., the second emission region 420), at leastone activation line of the plurality of activation lines for the lowerresolution region is coupled with a single light emitter of theplurality of light emitters so that the display panel is able toindividually activate that emitter and provide a faster response to aperipheral vision.

FIG. 8 illustrates a matrix layout for a high resolution region of adisplay panel in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, a high resolution region (e.g., the first emissionregion 410) of the display panel (e.g., the display panel 400) includesa M by N matrix layout having a plurality of row activation lines and aplurality of column activation lines for activating a plurality of lightemitters in the high resolution region. In some embodiments, Mrepresents the number of row activation lines of the plurality of rowactivation lines and N represents the number of column activation linesof the plurality of column activation lines. M and N are determined bythe number of light emitters of the plurality of light emitters in thehigher resolution region. In the matrix layout, a single row activationline is coupled with two or more light emitters of the plurality oflight emitters and a single column activation line is coupled with twoor more light emitters of the plurality of light emitters. A respectivelight emitter of the plurality of light emitters is positioned at alocation adjacent to a respective intersection of a row activation lineof the plurality of row activation lines and a column activation line ofthe plurality of column activation lines. Therefore, the number of lightemitters of the plurality of light emitters is equal to the number ofintersections of M row activation lines and N column activation lines (Mtimes N). In addition, the respective light emitter is electricallycoupled with the row activation line and the column activation line sothat the plurality of light emitters in the higher resolution region isactivated by M+N activation lines instead of M×N activation lines. Insome embodiments, M is equal to, or distinct from N (e.g., M=4 and N=4,M=5 and N=4, M=4 and N=5, etc.). In some embodiments, the number oflight emitter of the plurality of light emitters is more than two (e.g.,ten, twenty, hundred, thousand, etc.) as shown in FIG. 5 .

FIG. 8 illustrates a 4 by 5 matrix layout having 4 row activation linesand 5 column activation lines for 20 light emitters in the highresolution region. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8 , 4 rowactivation lines are cathodes (e.g., a row activation line 800) and 5column activation lines are anodes (e.g., a column activation line 810).As shown in FIG. 8 , 5 light emitters are electrically coupled with therow activation line 800 and 4 light emitters are electrically coupledwith the column activation line 810. In some embodiments, a lightemitter 820 is positioned at a location adjacent to an intersection ofthe row activation line 800 and the column activation line 810 so thatthe light emitter 820 is electrically coupled with the row activationline 800 and the column activation line 810. In this manner, the displaydevice is able to activate 20 light emitters by using only 9 activationlines of the matrix layout, that is equal to a sum of 4 row activationlines and 5 column activation lines. In some embodiments, the pluralityof light emitters for the high resolution region is included in adisplay panel that is distinct and separate from a display panel havinga plurality of light emitters for the low resolution region. The displaypanel for the higher resolution region is relatively smaller than thedisplay panel for the lower resolution region so that the display panelfor the higher resolution region is separately fabricated as a singlepiece and attached to the display panel for the lower resolution region.

FIG. 9 illustrates a hybrid addressing layout for a display panel inaccordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the higher resolution region is referred to as afirst emission region (e.g., the first emission region 410) and thelower resolution region is referred to as a second emission region(e.g., the second emission region 420). In the hybrid addressing layout,a M by N matrix having M+N activation lines is used for a firstplurality of light emitters arranged in the first emission region asdescribed with respect to FIG. 8 while a plurality of activation linesis used for a second plurality of light emitters arranged in the secondemission region. In some embodiments, a single activation line for thefirst emission region is coupled with a first number of light emittersin the first emission region and a single activation line for the secondemission region is coupled with a second number of light emitters in thesecond emission region. In some embodiments, the first number of lightemitters is distinct from the second number of light emitters (e.g., thefirst number of light emitters is 3, the second number of light emittersis 1). In some embodiments, the first number of light emitters is sameas the second number of light emitters. In some embodiments, the firstnumber of light emitters in the first emission region has one value whenM is equal to N. For example, in a 4 by 4 matrix having 4 row activationlines and 4 column activation lines for 16 light emitters in the highresolution region, a single row activation line is coupled with 4 lightemitters and a single column activation line is coupled with 4 lightemitters. The first number of light emitters is 4. In some embodiments,the first number of light emitters in the first emission region has twovalues when M is distinct from N (e.g., M=3, N=4 or M=6, N=4, etc.). Forexample, in a 4 by 5 matrix having 4 row activation lines and 5 columnactivation lines for 20 light emitters in the higher resolution region,a single row activation line is coupled with 5 light emitters and asingle column activation line is coupled with 5 light emitters so thatthe first number is 4 or 5. In some embodiments, the second plurality oflight emitters in the second emission region is coupled with a pluralityof activation lines so that the second plurality of light emitters inthe second emission region is individually addressable. In someembodiments, the number of activation lines of the plurality ofactivation lines for the second emission region is equal to, or greaterthan the number of light emitters of the second plurality of lightemitters in the second emission region. For example, a single lightemitter in the second emission region is coupled with a singleactivation line so that the second number of light emitters coupled witha single activation line is 1. For example, a single light emitter inthe second emission region coupled with two activation lines, the secondnumber of light emitters is 2.

FIG. 9 illustrates the first emission region 910 (e.g., the firstemission region 410) having a 4 by 4 matrix layout for 16 light emittersin the first emission region 910 and the second emission region 920(e.g., the second emission region 420) having 64 connection linescoupled with 32 light emitters in the second emission region 920.Although FIG. 9 illustrates the first emission region 910 and the secondemission region 920, the display panel 900 may have more than twoemission regions (e.g., at least 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 regions, etc.). Asshown in FIG. 9 , the 4 by 4 matrix layout for the first emission region910 has 8 activation lines 912 including 4 row activation lines and 4column activation lines. A single row activation line is coupled with 4light emitters and a single column activation line is coupled with 4light emitters. Therefore, the number of light emitters coupled with anysingle activation line of the 8 activation lines for the first emissionregion 910 is 4. As shown in FIG. 9 , a single light emitter 922 in thesecond emission region 920 is coupled with two activation lines 930,932. In this manner, the display device is able to activate 32 lightemitters in the second emission region 920 by using 64 activation lines.Therefore, the number of activation lines for the second emission region920 coupled with any single light emitter is 2, which is distinct from 4light emitters coupled with the single activation line for the firstemission region 910.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a display panel having aninterposer that is coupled with a control circuit. Line AA′ in FIG. 4represents a view from which the cross-sectional shown in FIG. 10 istaken.

In some embodiments, a display panel (e.g., the display panel 400) has aplurality of sub-display panels including a first sub-display panel 1010and two sub-display panels 1020 stacked on an interposer 1040 that iscoupled with a control circuit 1050. The plurality of sub-display panelsis vertically connected to the control circuit 1050 through theinterposer 1040. In some embodiments, the plurality of sub-displaypanels is distinct and separate from each other. In some embodiments, afirst emission region (e.g., the first emission region 910) of thedisplay panel (e.g., the display panel 400) is included in the firstsub-display panel 1010 that is fabricated as a single piece using thematrix layout as described with respect to FIGS. 8-9 . In someembodiments, a second emission region (e.g., the second emission region920) is included in at least two sub-display panels (e.g., twosub-display panels 1020) that include a plurality of light emitterscoupled with a plurality of activation lines as described with respectto FIGS. 8-9 . In some embodiments, at least two adjacent sub-displaypanels are connected to each other to form the second emission regionthat surround the first emission region. In some embodiments, the twosub-display panels 1020 are separately fabricated and distinct from eachother. As described with respect to FIGS. 4-5 , the display panel has afew more emission regions (e.g., 3,4,5,6,7, etc.), and a single emissionregion of the emission regions is included in at least one sub-displaypanel in order to form the display structure illustrated in FIG. 5 . Theplurality of sub-display panels may have different sizes. In someembodiments, a plurality of solder bumps 1030 is disposed on an uppersurface of the interposer so that the plurality of sub-display panelscan be attached to the upper surface of the interposer 1040 through theplurality of solder bumps 1030.

In some embodiments, the control circuit 1050, which is configured tocontrol (or drive) the plurality of sub-display panels, is attached to alower surface of the interposer 1040. In some embodiments, the controlcircuit 1050 is a single ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit)to maintain a constant pitch used for bonding row drivers and columndrivers that are configured to drive at least one sub-display panel. Insome embodiments, the control circuit 1050 is smaller than the displaypanel having the plurality of sub-display panels. In this configuration,the control circuit 1050 is positioned below the first sub-display panel1010 thereby driving the first sub-display panel for a high resolutionat higher speed than other sub-display panels for low resolutions. Insome embodiments, the control circuit 1050 is positioned below the firstsub-display panel 1010 and at least one sub-display panel (e.g., thesub-display panel 1020) for a portion of the second emission region(e.g., the second emission region 920). The control circuit 1050 isattached to the lower surface of the interposer 1040 through a pluralityof solder bumps 1031 disposed on the lower surface of the interposer1040. The number of solder bumps of the plurality of sold bumps 1031disposed on the lower surface of the interposer 1040 is less than thenumber of solder bumps of the plurality of solder bumps 1030 disposed onthe upper surface of the interposer 1040.

In some embodiments, the interposer 1040 has a plurality of TSVs(Through Silicon Vias, not illustrated in FIG. 10 ) that is configuredto connect at least one solder bump of the plurality of solder bumps1030 disposed on the upper surface of the interposer 1040 and at leastone solder bump of the plurality of solder bumps 1031 disposed on thelower surface of the interposer 1040. In some embodiments, theinterposer 1040 includes a plurality of sub-interposers, thatcorresponds to the plurality of sub-display panels for differentresolutions, that is distinct from each other. For example, theinterposer 1040 can include a first sub-interposer that is positionedbelow the first sub-display panel 1010 for the first emission region(e.g., the first emission region 410, the first emission region 910).The interposer 1040 can further include a second sub-interposer that ispositioned below one of two sub-display panels 1020 forming a portion ofthe second emission region (e.g., the second emission region 420, thesecond emission region 920). In some embodiments, the plurality ofsub-interposers have different heights. As described with respect toFIGS. 5-7 , a light emitter (e.g., the light emitter 510) in a higherresolution region (e.g., the first emission region 410, the firstemission region 910) is smaller than a light emitter (e.g., the lightemitter 520, or the light emitter 530) in lower resolution region(s)(e.g., the second emission region 420, the third emission region 430).In some embodiments, the first sub-interposer has a height that isgreater than a height of sub-interposers for the lower resolutionregion(s) to elevate a plurality of light emitters in the higherresolution region.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of making a displaydevice in accordance with some embodiments.

The method includes arranging (1100) a first plurality of light emittersin a first emission region (e.g., the first emission region 410, thefirst emission region 910) of a display panel (e.g., the display panel400 in FIGS. 4-5 , the display panel 900 in FIG. 9 ) and arranging asecond plurality of light emitters in a second emission region (e.g.,the second emission region 420 or the second emission region 920) of thedisplay panel. The first plurality of light emitters in the firstemission region (e.g., the first emission region 410 or the firstemission region 910) are electrically coupled with a plurality ofactivation lines for the first emission region as described with respectto FIGS. 8-9 . A single activation line of the plurality of activationlines (e.g., the single row activation line or the single columnactivation line illustrated in FIG. 9 ) for the first emission region iselectrically coupled with a first number of light emitters (e.g., 4light emitters illustrated in FIG. 9 ) in the first emission region asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 8-9 . The second plurality of lightemitters in the second emission region (e.g., the second emission region420, the second emission region 920) are electrically coupled with aplurality of activation lines for the second emission region (e.g., 64activation lines illustrated in FIG. 9 ). A single activation line ofthe plurality of activation lines for the second emission region iselectrically coupled with a second number of light emitters (e.g., 2light emitters illustrated in FIG. 9 ) in the second emission region.The second number is distinct from the first number as described withrespect to FIGS. 8-9 .

The method further includes attaching (1110) a first sub-display panel(e.g., the first sub-display panel 1010) that includes the firstplurality of light emitters arranged in the first emission region to aninterposer (e.g., the interposer 1040). In some embodiments, the firstemission region (e.g., the first emission region 910) includes a matrixlayout having a plurality of row activation lines and a plurality ofcolumn activation lines as described with respect to FIGS. 8-9 . In someembodiments, the second plurality of light emitters arranged in thesecond emission region (e.g., the second emission region 920) areindividually addressable as described with respect to FIGS. 8-9 .

The method further includes attaching (1120) a second sub-display panel(e.g., a sub-display panel 1020) that includes the second plurality oflight emitters arranged in the second emission region (e.g., the secondemission region 920) to the interposer (e.g., the interposer 1040). Insome embodiments, the second sub-display panel is distinct and separatefrom the first sub-display panel as described with respect to FIGS. 8-10.

The method further includes positioning (1120) a respective lightemitter (e.g., the light emitter 820) of the first plurality of lightemitters arranged in the first emission region (e.g., the first emissionregion 410, the first emission region 910) at a location adjacent to arespective intersection of a row activation line (e.g., the rowactivation line 800) of the plurality of row activation lines and acolumn activation line (e.g., the column activation line 810) of theplurality of column activation lines. The method further includeselectrically coupling (1120) the respective light emitter with the rowactivation line and the column activation line as described with respectto FIGS. 8-9 . In some embodiments, two or more light emitters of thefirst plurality of light emitters arranged in the first emission regionare electrically coupled with a single row activation line of theplurality of row activation lines and two or more light emitters of thefirst plurality of light emitters arranged in the first emission regionare electrically coupled with a single column activation line of theplurality of column activation lines as described with respect to FIGS.8-9 . In some embodiments, a number of activation lines of the pluralityof activation lines for the second emission region is equal to, orgreater than, a number of light emitters of the second plurality oflight emitters arranged in the second emission region as described withrespect to FIGS. 8-9 .

In light of these principles, we turn to certain embodiments.

In accordance with some embodiments, a display device includes a displaypanel configured to project light that has a first emission region, asecond emission region that is distinct from and mutually exclusive tothe first emission region and that surrounds the first emission region(e.g., FIGS. 4-7 ). The display device further includes a firstplurality of light emitters arranged in the first emission region, and aplurality of activation lines for the first emission region (e.g., FIGS.4-9 ). A single activation line of the plurality of activation lines forthe first emission region is electrically coupled with a first number oflight emitters in the first emission region (e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ). Thedisplay device further includes a second plurality of light emittersarranged in the second emission region and a plurality of activationlines for the second emission region (e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ). A singleactivation line of the plurality of activation lines for the secondemission region is electrically coupled with a second number of lightemitters in the second emission region (e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ). The secondnumber is distinct from the first number (e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ).

In some embodiments, the display panel includes an interposer and thefirst plurality of light emitters arranged in the first emission regionis included in a first sub-display panel that is attached to theinterposer (e.g., FIGS. 8-10 ).

In some embodiments, the second plurality of light emitters arranged inthe second emission region is included in a second sub-display panelthat is attached to the interposer. The second sub-display panel isdistinct and separate from the first sub-display panel (e.g., FIG. 10 ).

In some embodiments, the first emission region includes a matrix layouthaving a plurality of row activation lines and a plurality of columnactivation lines (e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ).

In some embodiments, a respective light emitter of the first pluralityof light emitters arranged the first emission region is positioned at alocation adjacent to a respective intersection of a row activation lineof the plurality of row activation lines and a column activation line ofthe plurality of column activation lines. The respective light emitteris electrically coupled with the row activation line and the columnactivation line (e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ).

In some embodiments, a sum of a number of row activation lines of theplurality of row activation lines and a number of column activationlines of the plurality of column activation lines is less than a numberof light emitters of the first plurality of light emitters arranged inthe first emission region (e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ).

In some embodiments, two or more light emitters of the first pluralityof light emitters arranged in the first emission region are electricallycoupled with a single row activation line of the plurality of rowactivation lines and two or more light emitters of the first pluralityof light emitters arranged in the first emission region are electricallycoupled with a single column activation line of the plurality of columnactivation lines (e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ).

In some embodiments, the second plurality of light emitters arranged inthe second emission region is individually addressable (e.g., FIG. 9 ).A number of activation lines of the plurality of activation lines forthe second emission region is equal to, or greater than, a number oflight emitters of the second plurality of light emitters arranged in thesecond emission region (e.g., FIG. 9 ).

In some embodiments, the first emission region has a first density ofthe first plurality of light emitters arranged in the first emissionregion and the second emission region has a second density of the secondplurality of light emitters arranged in the second emission region thatis less than the first density (e.g., FIGS. 4-9 ). A light emitterarranged in the first emission region is smaller than a light emitterarranged in the second emission region (e.g., FIGS. 4-7 ).

In some embodiments, the display device further includes a controllercoupled with the display panel that is configured to activate at leastone light emitter in the first emission region using the plurality ofactivation lines for the first emission region and at least one lightemitter in the second emission region using the plurality of activationlines for the second emission region (e.g., FIG. 10 ).

In accordance with some embodiments, a method of making a display deviceincludes arranging a first plurality of light emitters in a firstemission region of a display panel and arranging a second plurality oflight emitters in a second emission region of the display panel (e.g.,FIGS. 8-9 ). The first plurality of light emitters arranged in the firstemission region is electrically coupled with a plurality of activationlines for the first emission region and the second plurality of lightemitters arranged in the second emission region is electrically coupledwith a plurality of activation lines for the second emission region(e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ). A single activation line of the plurality ofactivation lines for the first emission region is electrically coupledwith a first number of light emitters in the first emission region(e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ). A single activation line of the plurality ofactivation lines for the second emission region is electrically coupledwith a second number of light emitters in the second emission region andthe second number is distinct from the first number (e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ).

In some embodiments, arranging the first plurality of light emitters inthe first emission region of the display panel includes attaching afirst sub-display panel that includes the first plurality of lightemitters arranged in the first emission region to an interposer (e.g.,FIGS. 8-10 ).

In some embodiments, the method further includes arranging the secondplurality of light emitters in the second emission region of the displaypanel includes attaching a second sub-display panel that includes thesecond plurality of light emitters arranged in the second emissionregion to the interposer. The second sub-display panel is distinct andseparate from the first sub-display panel (e.g., FIG. 10 ).

In some embodiments, the first emission region includes a matrix layouthaving a plurality of row activation lines and a plurality of columnactivation lines (e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ).

In some embodiments, the method further includes positioning arespective light emitter of the first plurality of light emittersarranged in the first emission region at a location adjacent to arespective intersection of a row activation line of the plurality of rowactivation lines and a column activation line of the plurality of columnactivation lines. The method further includes electrically coupling therespective light emitter with the row activation line and the columnactivation line (e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ).

In some embodiments, two or more light emitters of the first pluralityof light emitters arranged in the first emission region are electricallycoupled with a single row activation line of the plurality of rowactivation lines and two or more light emitters of the first pluralityof light emitters arranged in the first emission region are electricallycoupled with a single column activation line of the plurality of columnactivation lines (e.g., FIGS. 8-9 ).

In some embodiments, the second plurality of light emitters arranged inthe second emission region is individually addressable (e.g., FIG. 9 ).A number of activation lines of the plurality of activation lines forthe second emission region is equal to, or greater than, a number oflight emitters of the second plurality of light emitters arranged in thesecond emission region (e.g., FIG. 9 ).

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the scope of the claims to the precise forms disclosed. Manymodifications and variations are possible in view of the aboveteachings. The embodiments were chosen in order to best explain theprinciples underlying the claims and their practical applications, tothereby enable others skilled in the art to best use the embodimentswith various modifications as are suited to the particular usescontemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device, comprising: a display panel forprojecting light, the display panel having: a first emission regionincluding: a first plurality of light emitters; and a first plurality ofactivation lines arranged in a plurality of row activation lines and aplurality of column activation lines, a respective activation line ofthe first plurality of activation lines being coupled with two or morelight emitters of the first plurality of light emitters; and a secondemission region that is distinct from and mutually exclusive to thefirst emission region and positioned adjacent to the first emissionregion, the second emission region including: a second plurality oflight emitters; and a second plurality of activation lines, a respectiveactivation line of the second plurality of activation lines beingcoupled with a single light emitter of the second plurality of lightemitters.
 2. The display device of claim 1, wherein: the display panelincludes an interposer; and the first plurality of light emittersarranged in the first emission region is included in a first sub-displaypanel that is attached to the interposer.
 3. The display device of claim2, wherein the second plurality of light emitters arranged in the secondemission region is included in a second sub-display panel that isattached to the interposer, the second sub-display panel being distinctand separate from the first sub-display panel.
 4. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the first plurality of activation lines includes aplurality of row activation lines and a plurality of column activationlines.
 5. The display device of claim 4, wherein a respective lightemitter of the first plurality of light emitters arranged in the firstemission region is positioned at a location adjacent to a respectiveintersection of a row activation line of the plurality of row activationlines and a column activation line of the plurality of column activationlines, the respective light emitter being electrically coupled with therow activation line and the column activation line.
 6. The displaydevice of claim 4, wherein a sum of a number of row activation lines ofthe plurality of row activation lines and a number of column activationlines of the plurality of column activation lines is less than a numberof light emitters of the first plurality of light emitters arranged inthe first emission region.
 7. The display device of claim 4, wherein twoor more light emitters of the first plurality of light emitters arrangedin the first emission region are electrically coupled with a single rowactivation line of the plurality of row activation lines and two or morelight emitters of the first plurality of light emitters arranged in thefirst emission region are electrically coupled with a single columnactivation line of the plurality of column activation lines.
 8. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of lightemitters arranged in the second emission region is individuallyaddressable.
 9. The display device of claim 8, wherein a number ofactivation lines of the plurality of activation lines for the secondemission region is equal to, or greater than, a number of light emittersof the second plurality of light emitters arranged in the secondemission region.
 10. The display device of claim 1, wherein: the firstemission region has a first density of the first plurality of lightemitters arranged in the first emission region; and the second emissionregion has a second density of the second plurality of light emittersarranged in the second emission region that is less than the firstdensity.
 11. The display device of claim 1, wherein a light emitterarranged in the first emission region is smaller than a light emitterarranged in the second emission region.
 12. The display device of claim1, further comprising: a controller coupled with the display panel thatis configured to activate at least one light emitter in the firstemission region using the first plurality of activation lines for thefirst emission region and at least one light emitter in the secondemission region using the second plurality of activation lines for thesecond emission region.
 13. A method of making a display device, themethod comprising: arranging a first plurality of light emitters in afirst emission region of a display panel, wherein the first plurality oflight emitters in the first emission region is electrically coupled witha first plurality of activation lines in the first emission region, arespective activation line of the first plurality of activation linesfor the first emission region being coupled with two or more lightemitters of the first plurality of light emitters; and arranging asecond plurality of light emitters in a second emission region of thedisplay panel, wherein the second plurality of light emitters in thesecond emission region is electrically coupled with a second pluralityof activation lines in the second emission region, a respectiveactivation line of the second plurality of activation lines for thesecond emission region being coupled with a single light emitter of thesecond plurality of light emitters.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein:arranging the first plurality of light emitters in the first emissionregion of the display panel includes attaching a first sub-displaypanel, that includes the first plurality of light emitters arranged inthe first emission region, to an interposer.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein: arranging the second plurality of light emitters in the secondemission region of the display panel includes attaching a secondsub-display panel that includes the second plurality of light emittersarranged in the second emission region to the interposer, the secondsub-display panel being distinct and separate from the first sub-displaypanel.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first plurality ofactivation lines includes a plurality of row activation lines and aplurality of column activation lines.
 17. The method of claim 16,including positioning a respective light emitter of the first pluralityof light emitters arranged in the first emission region at a locationadjacent to a respective intersection of a row activation line of theplurality of row activation lines and a column activation line of theplurality of column activation lines and electrically coupling therespective light emitter with the row activation line and the columnactivation line.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein two or more lightemitters of the first plurality of light emitters arranged in the firstemission region are electrically coupled with a single row activationline of the plurality of row activation lines and two or more lightemitters of the first plurality of light emitters arranged in the firstemission region are electrically coupled with a single column activationline of the plurality of column activation lines.
 19. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the second plurality of light emitters arranged in thesecond emission region is individually addressable.
 20. The method ofclaim 19, wherein each activation line of the second plurality ofactivation lines for the second emission region is electrically coupledwith only a single light emitter of the second plurality of lightemitters arranged in the second emission region.